TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2013//
TI  - Non-sex offenders display distorted thinking and have empathy deficits too: A thematic analysis of cognitions and the application of empathy
JO  - Journal of sexual aggression
A1  - Walker, Kate
A1  - Brown, Sarah J.
SP  - 81
EP  - 101
VL  - 19
IS  - 1
N2  - It is generally assumed that empathy acts to disinhibit behaviour that could be perceived as detrimental to others, and as a result is a common feature of offender treatment programmes. The present research hypothesised that empathy in all populations is both a situational and a selective process that is ultimately governed by self-interest, and further, that it is the nature of the self-interest that distinguishes individuals rather than a general empathy deficit per se. Empathic processes were observed in a non-offending population in a personal situation normally regarded as evocative of empathy: infidelity. Thematic analysis of data from individuals who reported being faithful or unfaithful to their partners revealed five dominant themes: vulnerable predisposition, emotional motivators, rational emotive decision making, avoiding cognitive dissonance and lack of remorse. The themes all revealed how individuals employed cognitive strategies, which were managed by self-interest that functioned to create cognitive states devoid of empathy.<p />
LA  - en
SN  - 1355-2600
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2011.618276
ID  - ref1
ER  -